Community College Notebook: Ventura football finishes 5th in state

Steve Mooshagian was sympathetic as he watched everything go wrong for Notre Dame in the BCS Championship Game on Monday night.

"I said to myself, 'That looks familiar,' " said the Ventura College football coach, whose team's undefeated season ended on another night when Murphy's Law was in effect.

Everything that could go wrong for the Pirates did in their 48-8 loss to visiting Bakersfield in the Southern California semifinals Nov. 17.

Conversely, the Renegades went on to win the state championship, avenging their two regular-season losses and knocking off the defending champion on the way.

Still, with last week's release of the California Community College Football Coaches Association final polls and honors, the book is now closed on one of the best seasons in school history.

Ventura finished No. 5 in the final CCCFCA state poll.

"This football team will go down as one of the greatest teams in school history," Mooshagian said. "Finishing fifth in the state legitimizes it."

VC joined Mount San Antonio and Butte as the only one-loss teams in the state.

"When I got the job, one of the things I wanted to do was make this into one of the top 5 programs in the state," Mooshagian said. "That's where we are.

"But getting there is a lot easier than staying there. So we're going to stay very humble about this, continue to recruit and keep our philosophies and work ethic.

Howard honored

The Pirates were also well represented when the CCCFCA All-American and All-State teams were released Friday.

Jordan Howard was perhaps the Pirates' most decorated player. The sophomore, who had two interceptions, 10 pass breakups and returned two kickoffs for touchdowns, was listed as a returner on the All-American team and a cornerback on the All-State team.

"When you're sitting there and coaches are voting, Jordan had those sparks of things to remember," Mooshagian said. "He had the kickoff return that changed the Bakersfield game, had the return that deflated Canyons and he made enough plays at the corner position that people knew that No. 9."